Degree Scheme Structure

Our Full-Time Masters programmes MA in International Relations and MA War, Strategy and Intelligence are 12 months in duration, with the taught element taking place September-June, and the dissertation completed June-September.

Our MA International Politics (Dual Degree with American University) is a 24 month programme, spending the first 12 months in Aberystwyth and the second 12 months at American University in Washington, DC in the USA.

A strong commitment to the best possible learning experience means that teaching generally takes place in small, interactive seminar groups.

During the first two semesters you will normally take one two-hour seminar per module per week. You will also have contact with academic staff through participation in research groups, attendance in departmental research seminars and masters workshops and through staff office hours (two one hour sessions per week). There will also be additional sessions working towards developing your master’s dissertation. During semester three you will arrange your level of contact time with your assigned supervisor.  Most modules are assessed through a combination of a variety of methods, including: essays, reports, projects, examinations, review essays and presentations.

Most of the Department’s Masters degree schemes are offered through two distinct pathways.

The Specialist (S) pathway provides the opportunity for students to pursue advanced, subject-specific study in their chosen area of the discipline. Students following this pathway take the degree scheme core module (compulsory), and any Masters options taught by the Department (including a maximum of one module offered by another department). More information on modules available from other departments is available at: www.aber.ac.uk/en/modules/. Finally Students complete a 14-15,000 word dissertation.

The Research Training (RT) pathway is particularly useful for students who have a first degree in Politics/International Relations and who are either planning to undertake a PhD or envisage a career in social science research. Students following this pathway take the degree scheme core module (compulsory), a suite of research training modules (compulsory) and select a smaller number of modules from a bespoke basket of degree scheme related options and other choices offered by the Department/other academic departments. More information on modules available from other departments is available at: www.aber.ac.uk/en/modules/. Like the Specialist degree scheme, this pathway culminates in a 14-15,000 word dissertation.